Yoga and Exercise for MS Patients

In addition to being essential to general health and well-being, exercise is helpful in managing many MS symptoms. A study published by researchers at the University of Utah in 1996 was the first to demonstrate clearly the benefits of exercise for people with MS. Those patients who participated in an aerobic exercise program had better cardiovascular fitness, improved strength, better bladder and bowel function, less fatigue and depression, a more positive attitude, and increased participation in social activities. Since 1996, several additional studies have confirmed the benefits of exercise. For example, in a study by the Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, they sought to determine the effect of yoga and of aerobic exercise on cognitive function, fatigue, mood, and quality of life in multiple sclerosis. Their findings were that MS sufferers participating in either a 6-month yoga class or exercise class showed significant improvement in measures of fatigue compared to a waiting-list control group.